Tim Easterby, in a race against time as he seeks to notch his first century in a season on the Flat, can move to the threshold of his milestone at Southwell this afternoon.

The Great Habton trainer, who took out a licence in 1996 on the retirement of his legendary father Peter Easterby, enjoyed his best ever campaign, both in quantity and quality in 2002 when he sent out out 81 winners and also landed a never to be forgotten Classic victory with Bollin Eric in the St Leger at Doncaster.

Last year, his score fell back to 54 successes, but Easterby has bounced back with a vengeance in 2010 and is currently just two winners short of nailing a three-figure score as we enter the final week before the old year gives way to the new.

High Rolling gives Easterby good prospects at Southwell today, provided he can handle the switch to an all-weather surface.

Although yet to get his head in front on turf, the three-year-old has stacked up a sequence of placed efforts in handicap company.

The Dorothy Dixon Birthday Celebration Handicap is not a race that will take a great deal of winning and if only High Rolling can cope with Southwell’s Fibresand, he has every chance of moving Easterby on to 99 Flat winners for the year. Duran Fentiman, who rode the stable’s Malcheek to a 25-1 success here recently, takes the mount.

David Nicholls has his horses in rude health and Even Stevens, who is on something of a roll at present, will surely be hard to beat in the opening Bet totepool On All UK Racing Nursery, despite a massive hike up the ratings.

The juvenile sprinter has won his last three starts on the all-weather circuit, his latest success over this course and distance being achieved by a fluent six lengths. The handicapper, though, has had his say and Even Stevens is now set to race off a 16lb higher mark.

It may well be that an anchor has been applied to his winning ways, but he is in such tremendous heart that this speedy youngster may well defy the handicapper by extending his sequence to four straight wins. Billy Cray has the ride.

Nicholls can also win the Play Golf At Southwell in 2011 Maiden Stakes with Opus Dei.

Although he has proved expensive to follow to date, having failed to get his head in front in four tries, Opus Dei has finished in the frame in all his starts and has earned himself a superior rating to his three rivals.

Opportunity promises to come knocking this time.

The nap selection is awarded to Exopuntia in the Play Golf Before Racing At Southwell Handicap.

Julia Fielden’s gelding won with something in hand when trouncing It’s A Mans World on this course recently. A 7lb higher mark may not be enough to prevent him from completing a quick double.

Richard Fahey, whose Sloop JohnB (1.15) has good prospects dropped into claiming company at Southwell today, can also strike at Lingfield tomorrrow with Faithful Ruler (11.30), who carries the nap selection.

An able handicapper on his day, the gelding is dropped into selling company in the opening apprentices’ race and will be partnered by George Chaloner, who has made a good impression in recent weeks, riding a couple of winners for Fahey in his first ten mounts for the Malton trainer.


Racing selections

Southwell (Today)
12.10 Even Stevens, 12.45 Heresellie, 1.15 Sloop JohnB, 1.50 Dontpaytheferryman, 2.25 Exopuntia (NAP), 3.00 Opus Dei, 3.35 High Rolling.

There are no other meetings today.

Lingfield (Tomorrow)
11.30 Faithful Ruler (NAP), 12.05 Lady Rosamunde, 12.35 Norville, 1.10 I Confess, 1.40 Sutton Veny, 2.15 Talayeb, 2.50 Ocean Of Peace, 3.25 Sir Ike.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Ffos Las and Southwell.